VHFA News

BURLINGTON-Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced that Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) has hired Zach Nelson of Burlington’s North End for the position of Business Development Coordinator-Homeownership. Nelson comes to VHFA from the Burlington Free Press where he was an Account Executive. “Zach’s background in developing marketing campaigns and digital marketing solutions will be valuable in marketing for the Agency’s mortgage products”, Carpenter remarked. In addition, Nelson will work with the Manager of Business Development to increase support to VHFA’s lending partners and consumers.

VHFA is a non-profit agency created in 1974 by the Vermont Legislature to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped approximately 29,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of approximately 8,800 affordable rental apartments.

National Life Group has doubled their investments in charitable giving this year to 2 million dollars. Part of the National Life Group Foundation’s giving will support Main Street Grants, a new project designed to support revitalizing downtowns. As we all know, affordable housing is often a key component of strengthening our state’s downtowns. Municipalities, community partners, and housing organizations should go to National Life’s website soon to learn more about this exciting opportunity because applications are due at the end of December.

Vermont housing partners honored Connie Snow last week as she retires from her role as Executive Director of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. Snow has led the housing trust in this region for 30 years, since it was first established in 1987.

Read more about Snow's accomplishments in this in-depth story from The Commons.

This holiday season VHFA is auctioning off many themed-baskets brimming with fabulous gifts and donating all proceeds to the United Way of Northwest Vermont. We can’t think of a better, stress-free way to get your holiday shopping done!

Each beautiful basket is described fully at Bidding for Good. Place your bid now and check back often before the bidding closes on Monday, December 18 at noon. Bidding is simple with the easy account creation tool at Bidding for Good.

There are basket themes to suit everyone on your list, from “Family-Game Night” to “Chocolate Lovers” to a “Carhartt Basket” as well as many Vermont-themed products and services.

Please feel free to share this email with all your friends and family.

Housing partners seeking to improve opportunities for lower income Vermonters described this week why federal tax reform bills would make reaching this goal much harder and hurt Vermont communities. Learn more from these WPTZ and CCTV stories.

The House and Senate bills undergoing reconciliation contain a number of provisions that affect housing. This table from CPA firm Novogradac & Company compares current law to proposals in the House and Senate tax reform bills.